Human Rights Watch is calling on Indonesia to scrap “virginity tests” given to female police recruits. Apparently, female recruits are subjected to the “two-finger test” to determine if they are virgins. Unsurprisingly, it is described it as painful and traumatic.
Senior police officials have claimed the practice has been discontinued. But the test is listed as a requirement for women applicants on the official police recruitment website, and Human Rights Watch interviews suggest it is still being widely applied.
Note that the tests were aimed at ensuring that recruits don’t have sexually transmitted diseases. So why are men not tested as well? Human Rights Watch say “virginity tests” are also used by police in other countries, including Afghanistan, Egypt and India. They are a violation of human rights and point to the sexism and gender inequality still rampant in some countries, which by now should know better.
I never cease to be shocked, depressed and angry at the way women are controlled and violated across the world. I’m especially frustrated because all I can do about it is sign petitions and slam doors.
Can anyone suggest anything ,more we can do?
If you come back on Tuesday ( I hope), I will have information about female genital muitilation. Now that is horrible thing you can do something about, because it is happening all he time in England.